Archive for September, 2014

NUI Galway has launched the 2014/2015 Arts in Action Programme, which invites students to engage with the creative arts during their studies. Aimed at students across the campus, Arts in Action offers access to a variety of international-standard arts events throughout the academic year.

The Arts in Action programme is packed with rich and diverse performances focusing on emerging artists from the Western sea board of Ireland, focusing on counties Clare, Limerick, Cork and Kerry and also on performances by international names from the world of theatre, literature and traditional music.

Among the legendary performers showcasing in this year’s series are: Olwen Fouéré, Mick Moloney, Peadar O’Ríada, the Mulcahy Family and Dolores Keane. This year also sees a commemoration of Maud Gonne, the 150th anniversary of the birth of WB Yeats and two new collaborations with NUI Galway’s Moore Institute and the James Hardiman Library.

The Dean of the College of Arts Social Sciences and Celtic Studies, Dr Edward Herring said: “The performers in this year’s series come from Ireland’s entire Atlantic coast, from Donegal to Kerry. Just like the ocean constantly shapes and reinvigorates the coastline, so the indigenous tradition sustains and inspires the creative artists and communities of the West of Ireland.”

Launching the new programme, Vincent Woods, poet, RTÉ Arts broadcaster and journalist, said: “The Arts in Action programme at NUI Galway is a rare and very impressive example of a university incorporating creative performance into its academic calendar, a blueprint for all third-level colleges in Ireland. I commend it for its vitality, diversity, relevance and richness.”

Arts in Action has been building over three years to support specific undergraduate and post-graduate modules as well as having a significant input into the programmes for International Students. The content of the programme is designed in such a way that it is now aligned to a teaching theory component within a two-hour seminar and is a credit bearing module for both Irish and International students.

Mary Mc Partlan, Traditional Artist-in-Residence at the Centre for Theatre and Performance and Artistic Director of Arts in Action at NUI Galway, said: “This year’s programme marks the ultimate goal and objective of embedding the creative arts into academic modules, creating a full programme in such a sustained and significant way that fulfils all the aims and outcomes for credit bearing modules, available to all students across the campus, with structured, bespoke space opportunities for visiting students to immerse in Irish Traditional Culture.”

All events are free to attend and will take place mostly at The Cube and Bailey Allen Hall in Áras Na Mac Léinn, NUI Galway. The programme will commence on Thursday, 25 September and run until the end of March 2015.

Current ICU ratings apply, as shown in the ICU ratings list published in September 2014. (If you do not have an ICU rating, but have another national rating, then the last such rating published on or before 1 October 2014 is the one we will use.)

We allow some flexibility on these rating bands, as shown below.

(a) FIDE ratings, as published in the October 2014 rating list, may be used for eligibility for the Masters section, at the player’s discretion.

(b) Players with an ICU rating within 100 points of each rating band floor will be allowed to float up to the immediately higher section if they wish.

(c) Players who have had a published ICU rating in the past 2 years which is on or above the floors specified in the table above (i.e., 1800 and 1200), may use that rating to float up if they wish. The same applies to a live ICU rating obtained in the last 6 months (i.e., since 1 April 2104).

Entrants without a current rating will be allocated at the organizers’ discretion. The organizers reserve the right to refuse entry.

Prizes

No Player may win more than one prize; if you are eligible for two prizes, you will receive the larger one. [For instance, if you have a rating of 1200 and win the Major, you will receive the €450 first prize, but you won’t get a grading prize as well. But if you end up in a five-way tie for third in the Major, which would give you a prize of €20, and are also eligible for a grading prize of €50, you will get the grading prize.]

A player who cannot provide evidence of playing strength may only be awarded 50% of any prize money (except for first, second, or third prize in the Masters), at the organizers’ discretion.

The amount awarded in grading prizes may be slightly altered (up or down) depending on the number of entries.

Playing Schedule

Round No.

Time

Day

Date

Round 1

8 pm

Friday

Oct 17

Round 2

10 am

Saturday

Oct 18

Round 3

2.30 pm

Saturday

Oct 18

Round 4

7 pm

Saturday

Oct 18

Round 5

10 am

Sunday

Oct 19

Round 6

2.15 pm

Sunday

Oct 19

Players who arrive at the board an hour or more late will forfeit the game. If you are travelling and realise that you will arrive late, it would be a great help if you could contact the organizers at 087 2369387 before the start of the round.

Time limit: 90 minutes for the game, plus an increment of 10 seconds from move 1. (Note: this depends on us being able to source enough clocks. We will keep you informed here about any changes in the time limit.)

We hope to be able to provide both sets and clocks, but it would be a help if you could bring a set and clock, in case we are overwhelmed by late entries.

Other Tournament Rules

Mobile phones

The new FIDE rules on mobile phones, introduced on 1 July 2014, will not apply. However, you are strongly urged not to bring mobile phones or other electronic devices to the event. If you do bring a mobile phone, or any device containing a chess programme, it must be completely switchedoff for the entire duration of your game, and must always be completely switched off in the playing area. If any player’s mobile phone makes any noise during their game, that player automatically loses the game. If you are found using or consulting such a device (or having any communication from anyone else who is using or consulting such a device) whilst your game is in progress, you will immediately lose your game and be expelled from the tournament; a report will be prepared for the ICU, which might impose further disciplinary action

If you feel that you have to be in contact with the outside world during your game – perhaps because you expect an urgent and important message – you should consult an arbiter, who will do what he can to help you by looking after your phone for you. In no circumstances will you be allowed to use any communication device yourself during your game.

Spectators (including parents) must not have a mobile phone, or device capable of containing a chess programme, switched on in the playing venue.

If you suspect a player is using a mobile phone or device containing a chess programme, you should immediately inform an arbiter; you should not attempt to intervene yourself.

Connaught Chess Championship

The Galway congress will incorporate the Connaught Chess Championship; the title of Champion will be awarded to the highest placed player in the Masters who was either born in Connaught, or who has lived in Connaught for the past 12 months. (Proof of qualification may be required.) The Connaught Champion will receive the Connaught Chess Champion trophy, and will be nominated by the Irish Chess Union for entry to the 2015 British Chess Championship, with some financial assistance also provided by the ICU. [This title does not count as a ‘prize’, and so the Connaught Champion may also retain any prize money won.]

Enquiries

Enquiries are welcomed to GalwayChess@gmail.com (preferably),

or to Fiona Cormican on 087 2369387

Accommodation

Tournament Venue: Menlo Park Hotel, Galway

menloparkhotel.com 091-761122

Menlo Park Hotel is a modern 4-star hotel providing good accommodation, bars, restaurant, and has ample free parking.

The hotel is located just off the Galway ring road, so it is very easy to get to. It is within walking distance of Galway city centre.

We have secured the following B&B rates for the congress weekend

€85.00 for Friday night and €95 for Saturday night for a Double / Twin Room

€65.00 for Friday night and €75 for Saturday night for a Single Room

We have pre-reserved rooms in the hotel. To book at this reduced rate phone (+353) (0)91 761122 (ask for Room Reservations) or email reservations@menloparkhotel.com, mentioning the Chess Congress. Rooms are being held for us only until 3 October, so please book by then.

The Menlo Park Hotel has also offered us the following special deals:

You can upgrade to a Superior King room including robes, slippers, fruit and water for €20 per night

The charge for staying on for the Sunday night will be an extra €79 for double / twin or €59 for a single room

If you stay for three nights, the hotel will include a complementary four course dinner on one night

Entry

Entry Fees

All Competitions: €45
Student, retired: €40
Under 16, unemployed: €35

A discount of €10 applies if entry fee received on or before 12 October 2014.

A surcharge of €15 applies to entries received on the day of the tournament.

If you wish to enter by POST, you can download the entry form here and send it toPete Morriss, Glann, Oughterard, Co. Galway
Please make all cheques payable to “Galway Chess Club” and do not send cash in the post!

To enter ONLINE, provide your details in the payment form below and then wait a few seconds and you will be redirected to an entry form which you must fill in.
Once both of those are submitted, you should receive an email confirming your entry.
It is possible to enter multiple entrants at once – simply add up the entry fees (carefully!) and put the total in the Payment Amount section. Then you can add the extra details as necessary on the entry form which you will be redirected to.

GALWAY CONGRESS REGISTRATION

Card Holder’s Name

Email Address

Payment Amount

Card Number

Card Expiry Date

/

Card CVV

All entrants resident in Ireland must be a member of the Irish Chess Union;

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